Prepare for the types of questions you are likely to be asked when interviewing for a position at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas | HCSC.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas | HCSC is a leading healthcare company that provides health insurance and other services to more than 15 million people across the United States. With such a large customer base, it’s no surprise that the interview process for Blue Cross Blue Shield is competitive.
To give yourself the best chance of landing the job, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions. In this article, we’ve gathered a list of common Blue Cross Blue Shield interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.
The interview process at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas | HCSC can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone interview and one in-person interview. The in-person interview may be followed by additional rounds of interviews. The interview process is generally thorough and professional.
This question is a behavioral one that tests your customer service skills. It also helps the interviewer determine if you have experience working with customers in a healthcare setting. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you provided excellent customer service and helped a customer solve a problem or feel more comfortable.
Example: “The most important thing I can provide to a customer is empathy. In my last role as an insurance agent, I had a client who was very upset about her premium increase. She felt like she wasn’t getting good value for her money and wanted to cancel her policy. I listened to her concerns and explained how our company’s policies worked. Then, I offered to help her find ways to save money on her premiums while still receiving quality care.”
This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the company’s mission and how it aligns with your own goals. When answering this question, make sure to highlight any skills or experiences you have that will help Blue Cross achieve its goals.
Example: “I believe my experience in customer service and sales would be extremely beneficial for Blue Cross because I know what it takes to provide excellent customer service and create lasting relationships with customers. My sales experience has taught me how to effectively communicate with clients and overcome objections to close deals.”
Employers ask this question to see if you have confidence in your abilities and are willing to sell yourself. When answering, be sure to highlight a few of your strongest skills or qualifications that relate to the job description.
Example: “I am confident I should be hired for this position because I am an excellent communicator who is always looking for ways to improve my customer service skills. In my last role as a customer service representative, I received several compliments on my ability to answer questions clearly and help customers find solutions to their problems. I also think I would be a great fit for this role because I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me a good candidate for handling multiple tasks at once.”
This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether or not you’re willing to make tough decisions. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a time when you made a decision that wasn’t popular but was ultimately for the best of your team or company.
Example: “In my last position as an HR manager, I had to let one of our employees go due to budget cuts. It was a difficult situation because he’d been with the company for many years, however, I knew it was necessary. He was upset at first, but we were able to offer him some severance pay and he found another job within a few weeks.”
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to work as part of a team and contribute ideas that can improve the company’s processes. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you helped implement a new process or procedure at your previous job.
Example: “At my last job, I noticed that our department was having trouble keeping up with customer service requests because we were receiving too many calls from customers who had questions about their coverage. We decided to create a FAQ page on our website so that we could redirect callers to the information they needed without needing to speak with someone directly. This allowed us to reduce the number of incoming calls by 20% while still providing quality customer service.”
This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and experience necessary for this role. If you do, share a story about how you helped resolve a claim with a client or customer. If you don’t have any experience working with medical claims, explain why you’re interested in learning more about it.
Example: “I’ve worked as a receptionist at my current job for two years now, but I also work part-time as a freelance writer. Last year, I wrote a blog post on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois’s website about how to file a claim online. The article was so popular that it increased traffic to the site by 20%. My employer asked me to write another article about filing a claim over the phone.”
This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle challenges and whether you have the skills to solve problems. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation that was challenging but also one in which you were able to overcome the challenge or problem.
Example: “When I first started working as an insurance agent, I had a client who was very unhappy with their current health insurance provider. They wanted to switch providers because they felt like they weren’t getting good service from their current company. I spent time listening to them and learning more about their needs and wants. Then, I helped them find a new plan that met all of their requirements and provided excellent coverage at a price they could afford.”
This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. Use this opportunity to showcase your ambition, drive and willingness to learn new skills or take on more responsibility.
Example: “I’m currently working toward my MBA in healthcare management, which I hope to complete by next year. In addition to that, I would like to continue taking courses through the organization’s training program to expand my knowledge of the company’s products and services. I also want to gain experience managing a team of employees as part of my professional development.”
This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and disagreements. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but it’s also important to show that you’re able to work through conflict with a manager or other authority figure.
Example: “I once disagreed with my manager about a patient’s diagnosis. I was sure that the patient had a different condition than what they were being treated for, but my manager insisted that their diagnosis was correct. After speaking with them further, I realized that I may have misunderstood some of the information I was given. I apologized to my manager and asked if there was anything else I could do to help with the situation.”
This question can help interviewers assess your customer service skills. They want to know that you have the ability to diffuse a situation and keep customers happy. In your answer, try to explain how you would handle this situation in a calm and professional manner.
Example: “I understand that sometimes people get upset when they’re on the phone with an insurance company. I always make sure to listen to their concerns and address them as best as I can. If there’s something I cannot do or change about their policy, I apologize for any inconvenience it may cause. I also offer to connect them with my supervisor if they need further assistance.”
This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your interpersonal skills and how you handle stressful situations. Use examples from your previous work experience to highlight your ability to communicate with others, solve problems and manage stress.
Example: “In my last position as an HR manager, I noticed that some employees were having trouble getting their questions answered by their managers. This was causing them to feel stressed out about their jobs and impacting their performance. So, I started holding weekly meetings where employees could ask me any questions they had about their job or company policies. This helped relieve employee stress and boosted morale.”
This question is an opportunity to show your dedication and enthusiasm for the role. When answering, it can be helpful to think of a specific example from your past experience that shows how you would apply this principle in your new role.
Example: “I believe customer service is one of the most important aspects of my job as a health insurance agent. I always strive to make sure my customers are happy with their coverage and understand all of their options. In my last position, I had a client who was unhappy with her current provider because she felt like they were not listening to her concerns about her coverage. She switched to our agency and told me she was so happy with our services that she referred two other clients to us.”
The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your analytical skills. Use examples from previous work experience that show you can analyze data and interpret results.
Example: “In my last position, I worked with a team of analysts who were responsible for analyzing the company’s financial records. We used several software programs to examine our spending habits and identify areas where we could save money. For example, we found that some departments were overspending on supplies and equipment. After making adjustments, we saved the company $50,000.”
This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with a team and how well you collaborate. Use examples from your past to show that you’re able to work with others, communicate effectively and solve problems together as a group.
Example: “In my current role, I manage a small team of customer service representatives who answer questions about our products and services over the phone. In this position, I’ve learned how important it is to delegate tasks so everyone on the team has something to do while also providing support when needed. I also make sure to hold weekly meetings where we discuss any challenges or successes we’ve had.”
This question can help the interviewer determine how you manage your time and workload. Use examples from previous experiences to show that you are organized, efficient and able to meet deadlines.
Example: “I would first look at all of my tasks and decide which ones were most important or urgent. Then I would start with those assignments and work my way down to the least urgent ones. This helps me stay focused on what’s most important while still getting everything done by the deadline.”
The interviewer may ask this question to determine your level of experience with specific software programs. If you have worked in the healthcare industry for a while, it is likely that you are familiar with many different software programs. However, if you are new to the field, it is important to mention which ones you are learning about and plan on using in your role at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma & Texas | HCSC.
Example: “I am very comfortable working with Microsoft Office products as well as EHRs. I also have some experience with scheduling software programs like Calendly.”
This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company’s products and services. It also allows you to show that you have experience with these plans, which can be beneficial if you’re applying for a position in sales or customer service.
Example: “I believe the Blue Advantage PPO plan is the best option for our members because it offers low copays and no deductibles. This means that they don’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket until their annual deductible has been met. I’ve worked with this plan before, so I know how much value it provides.”
This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to communicate with members. You can use a past experience to demonstrate how you would handle this situation.
Example: “I once had a member call me because they were upset that their claim was denied. I explained the reason for the denial, but they still didn’t understand why it happened. I asked them if there was anything else we could do to help them. They said they wanted us to cover the cost of their procedure, so I told them that unfortunately, we couldn’t do that. However, I offered to pay for any additional costs associated with the procedure.”
This question can help the interviewer understand your motivation for applying to this role. It’s important to be honest and explain why you’re looking for a new opportunity, but it’s also helpful to highlight any skills or experiences that make you a good fit for this position.
Example: “I’m excited about this opportunity because I’ve been working in my current position for five years now, and I feel like I have learned all there is to know about this industry. I am ready for a new challenge where I can apply my knowledge of healthcare and customer service to a different type of company.”
The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to work with complex data and information. Use examples from previous experiences where you organized large amounts of data, analyzed the information and used it to make decisions or recommendations.
Example: “In my current role as a health care consultant, I regularly analyze patient records and medical data to identify areas for improvement in quality care and efficiency. For example, I recently worked with a hospital that was experiencing high rates of readmission within 30 days of discharge. After analyzing the data, I discovered that many patients were returning due to complications related to their original diagnosis. We implemented new protocols to help prevent these readmissions and reduce costs.”